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Effects of Sodium Monensin on Copper Metabolism of Brazilian Santa Inês Sheep Submitted to Different Dietary Copper

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Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of sodium monensin on the hepatic accumulation of copper in sheep. Twenty-four Santa Inês crossbred sheep were used and allocated in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment with six repetitions and considering the factors dietary copper (basal and high) and supplementation (with and without sodium monensin). Thus, four homogeneous groups were formed: control (basal diet); monensin (Mon), 30 ppm of monensin; copper (Cu), 10 10 mg/kg BW per day of copper; monensin + copper (MonCu). The experimental period lasted 14 weeks. Liver and bile samples were collected at the beginning and end of the experiment to determine mineral element concentrations, and weekly blood samples for biochemical, hematological, and mineral evaluation. Liver copper concentrations at the beginning of the experiment did not vary between groups, while mean liver copper concentrations at the end of the experiment were higher in the MonCu, Cu, and Mon groups when compared to the control. At the end of the study, hepatic copper concentration was influenced by copper (p = 0.0001) and monensin (p = 0.0003) supplementation. Copper-supplemented groups had reduced liver iron contents (p = 0.0287) and increased copper concentrations in bile. The biochemical evaluation showed increased serum GGT and AST activity (p < 0.05) in the Cu and MonCu groups from the eleventh week on compared to the control and Mon groups. The increase in activity of these enzymes was influenced by copper supplementation (p = 0.0340). Monensin interferes positively with the hepatic accumulation of copper and the supplementation of this additive may predispose sheep to copper poisoning.

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All the raw data collected in this research is fully and completely available upon request to the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

AHHM is grateful to CNPq for his research productivity fellowship.

Funding

This research was funded by The São Paulo Research Foundation—FAPESP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo (FMVZ/USP), Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-270, Brazil

    Frederico Augusto Mazzocca Lopes Rodrigues, Francisco Leonado Costa de Oliveira, Isadora Karolina Freitas de Sousa, Clara Satsuki Mori & Enrico Lippi Ortolani

  2. Institute of Studies of the Humid Tropic, Federal University of the South and Southeast of Pará, Rua Alberto Santos Dumont, s/n, Xinguara, 68557-335, Brazil

    Rejane dos Santos Sousa

  3. Laboratory of Animal Health, LARSANA, Federal University of Western Pará, UFOPA, Rua Vera Paz, s/n, Salé, Santarém, PA, CEP 68040-255, Brazil

    Antonio Humberto Hamad Minervino

  4. Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE), Rua Manoel de Medeiros, s/n – Bairro Dois Irmãos, Recife, PE, CEP 52171-900, Brazil

    Carolina Akiko Sato Cabral Araújo

  5. Federal University of Vale do São Franciso (UNIVASF), Av. José de Sá Maniçoba, S/N - Centro, Petrolina, PE, CEP: 56304-917, Brazil

    Alexandre Coutinho Antonelli

  6. Department of Animal Science, Federal Rural University of the Semiarid Region (UFERSA), Av. Francisco Mota, s/nº - Bairro Pres. Costa e Silva, Mossoró, RN, CEP 59625-900, Brazil

    Raimundo Alves Barrêto Júnior

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  1. Frederico Augusto Mazzocca Lopes Rodrigues
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Antonio Humberto Hamad Minervino.

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All procedures and animal handling followed the ethical principles in animal experimentation, adopted by the present study which was approved by the Ethics Committee on Animal Research of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo.

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Rodrigues, F.A.M.L., Sousa, R.d., Minervino, A.H.H. et al. Effects of Sodium Monensin on Copper Metabolism of Brazilian Santa Inês Sheep Submitted to Different Dietary Copper. Biol Trace Elem Res 201, 196–203 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03132-7

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